Malaysia fifth happiest country in the world: Experts credit strong social cohesion, family values

SHAH ALAM - Mental health experts noted that Malaysia's adherence to family-oriented values, contributing to its strong support system for mental well-being, is a factor in its fifth-place ranking as the world's happiest country according to research conducted by Sapien Labs.

Malaysian Psycho Spiritual Well-being Association Deputy Chairman Psychologist and Suicidologist Dr Adnan Omar said that mental wellbeing encompasses our capacity to manage life's challenges, as reflected in the Mental Health Quotient (MHQ) of the study, which assesses self-perception across six key areas.

“It is essential to clarify that MHQ does not gauge happiness but rather our coping abilities in various aspects of mental function. While Malaysia ranks fifth on the list, this result, though surprising, I am assuming to be accurate.

“One's mental health is closely tied to lifestyle and Malaysia's high MHQ score of 85 per cent, reported by Sapien Labs, reflects several contributing factors,” he mentioned.

Dr Adnan also said that despite the misconception that medical institutions solely determine mental health, lifestyle plays a significant role.

“Factors like Malaysia's high literacy rate provide opportunities for knowledge and skills acquisition in mental health, while the enduring practice of family-oriented values offers a strong support system for mental wellbeing.

“Additionally, the multicultural social fabric of Malaysia fosters positive interactions, contributing to individuals' social self-measurement.

“Furthermore, Malaysians' adaptability and resilience, shaped by their positive outlook on life and strong informal social support networks enhance their ability to cope with life challenges, as measured by the MHQ,” he explained.

Dr Adnan also addressed the question about major first-world nations ranking among the unhappiest in the group, which he said was hard to measure due to varied definitions and measurements criteria.

“Measuring aspects of life, like happiness and mental wellbeing, poses a challenge due to varied definitions and measurement criteria.

“For instance, industrialised nations like Australia and Singapore may score low on MHQ due to different measurement items compared to formal indicators like mental health institutions.

“This discrepancy highlights the complexity of assessing subjective experiences and objective indicators across different contexts,” he added.

Echoing Dr Adnan’s view, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) Psychology Counselling Expert Associate Professor Dr Fauziah Mohd Sa'ad said that the result of the study suggested positively on Malaysians and the country.

“Malaysia's ranking as the fifth happiest country globally suggests that the country has strong social cohesion, cultural values and possibly effective policies promoting well-being.

“It reflects a combination of economic stability, social support networks, and cultural factors contributing to overall happiness.

“Malaysia's high Mental Health Quotient (MHQ) score may stem from community support, family values, healthcare accessibility, and cultural emphasis on mental well-being,” she said.

Dr Fauziah also mentioned that economic stability, education levels and religious diversity also likely contribute.

Additionally, she added that deeply ingrained family values and religious traditions may play a significant role in elevating Malaysia's MHQ.

“First-world nations ranking lower in happiness may be influenced by factors like stress, societal pressures, economic inequality, and cultural dynamics.

“Weather, work-life balance, and social connectivity could also contribute to perceived happiness levels,” she said.

Noting from her experience as a professor and mental health specialist, she noticed that foreign students not actively practicing their religion may struggle more with life's difficulties.

“For example, suicide, which is prohibited in Islam, might be considered by those lacking strong religious beliefs.

“Moreover, research has demonstrated that engaging in religious or spiritual activities such as prayer or attending places of worship can notably enhance one's sense of happiness,” she added.

In the Global Mind Project’s fourth annual “Mental State of the World" report, the top ten happiest countries were the Dominican Republic, followed by Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Panama, Malaysia, Nigeria, Venezuela, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Uruguay.

The report by non-profit neuroscience research organisation Sapien Labs, had polled 419,175 individuals from 71 countries in an anonymous online survey.

Also listed in the report were the top ten unhappiest countries with Uzbekistan listed first, followed by the United Kingdom, South Africa, Brazil, Tajikistan, Australia, Egypt, Ireland, Iraq and Yemen.

The MHQ assesses 47 aspects of mental health, in six categories - mood and outlook, social self, drive and motivation, mind-body connection, cognition, adaptability and resilience.

Malaysia scored 85 per cent, an increase of 2.9 per cent from the previous year.

Sapiens Lab also said those under 35 years old saw the worst declines in mental well-being, adding that it was exacerbated due to the Covid-19 pandemic while those over 65 stayed steady.

Two key findings published in Rapid Reports in 2023 show that younger age of first smartphone ownership and ultra-processed food consumption are two major contributors to our mental health challenges